School of Global & Public Health

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Browsing School of Global & Public Health by Author "Chauya, Ivy Violet"

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    Perceptions of HIV positive women on integrated health service delivery’s efficiency: A review of public health facilities of Lilongwe district, Malawi
    (2019-05-15) Chauya, Ivy Violet
    The study reviews perceptions of HIV positive women on Integrated Health Service Delivery (IHSD) efficiency focusing on HIV integration with other health services. HIV/AIDS has proved to be a global health concern impacting more on poor countries and vulnerable populations like women and children. The study aimed at exploring perceptions of HIV positive women aged 18 and above on IHSD’s efficiency in public health facilities of Lilongwe district, Malawi. Specifically describing the nature of IHSD, examining their knowledge and perceptions of IHSD. This study used a cross-sectional qualitative in-depth study design where 18 HIV positive clients and 6 KIs from 6 health facilities were purposively sampled: 2 from rural, 2 urban and other 2 from peri urban. Three clients and 1 KI were interviewed in each health facility. Data collected was analyzed using themes. Codes were developed bearing in mind the purpose of the study. The researcher identified the themes by isolating data that was significant and interesting in relation to the study objectives. The results focused on whether IHSD is effectively and efficiently being implemented, focusing on the 4 conceptual models of PATH that include patient centeredness, health operations, the health system as well as inter-sectoral initiatives. It was revealed that the public health facilities of Malawi are not fully implementing effective and efficient IHSD as perception of clients in the 4 conceptual models proved inadequate to deliver quality IHSD. The challenges of inadequate resources i.e. trained staff, equipment, drugs, poor infrastructure forcing the health workers to refer clients to other departments/health facilities to access a service does not please most clients as it entails a waste of time and money. HIV positive women also perceive IHSD as a good and helpful service, however, they expressed dissatisfaction with delays in the delivery services due to late commencement of work and continuous referrals done for them to access a service. This is also attributed to inadequate resources as few health workers fail to adequately support the increased number of clients. There is need for government to provide effective governance to mobilize resources and improve on resource availability, enforce laws that protect the scarce resources and strengthen collaborations within and between sectors to ensure effective and efficient implementation of IHSD in the public health facilities of Malawi